Apparatus of the reciprocating piston type for delivering fluids



Aprll 18, 1950 G. F. AUSTIN ETAL 2,504,945

APPARATUS 0F THE RECIPROCTING PISTON f .l TYPE FOR DELIVERING FLUIDS Filed Sept.\`-24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 `7 F/G/ i -F/G-2 fe \\W|\ um \V 1 AV 'iF/G3. f

MAMA Gondamwfovi BY kwam ATTORNEY April 18, 1950 G. F. AUSTIN ErAL 2,504,945

.APPARATUS oF THE REGIPROCATING PIsToN TYPE FOR DELIVERING FLuIns Filed Sept. 24, 1945 4 She-eiS--SheejI 2 `/G- 6. l F/ G. 7.

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G. F.' AUSTIN ET Al. APPARATUS oF THE RECIPROCATING PIsToN TYPE FOR DELIVERING FLUID Filed sept. 24,- 1945 @M Awo/ENEY April 18, 1950 G. F. AUSTIN HAL 2,504,945

APPARATUS oF THE RECIPPOCATING PIsToN TYPE PoR DELIVERING P LUIns Filed sept.` 24, 1945 sheets-sheet 4 Hei/2.

bound Patented Apr. 1s, 195o APPARATUS 0F THE RECIPROCATING PIS- TON TYPE FOR DELIVERING FLUIDS George Frederick Austin and David Gordon Wood. Birmingham, England l Application September 24, 1945, Serial No. 618,130

In Great Britain November 18, 1944 8 Claims. (Cl. 10S-163) A l f VThis invention relates sors of the reciprocating piston type constructed for the delivery of fluids. The object of the invention is apparatus having an improvedv capacity/weight or power/weight ratio;I whichis simple in construction; which is compact, reliable in operation, and capable of being made at low cost.

Reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which s VFigures 1-8 are cross-sectional elevations in diagrammatic form of one form of the invention, showing the relative positions of the several parts las they appear at different and succeeding phases of the cycle of operations. I Figures 9 and 10 are sectionalviews at right angles of a constructional form of the invention embodying the parts included in Figures 1-8, and Figure l1 is a fragmentary view of someA of the members included in Figures 9 and 10. Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a modification using two single-acting pistons instead of one double-acting as illustrated in the preceding figures. f

Apparatus illustrated in the diagrams Figures 1-8 includes a casing I closed at each end referred to hereinafter as a cylinder though it may be of other formation such as rectangular; a double ended-piston 2, 2a slidable therein; a doubleended motion-transmitting and port-controlling member 3, 3a. disposed within `the piston with such endwise clearance that it has a limited dimension of axial float relatively thereto; a driving part 4, la also double-ended which ts laterally inside the said member but is capable of relative up or down movement; a driving shaft 5 at the centre of the casing; and an eccentric 6 for converting the rotary motion of the shaft into lateral motion of the three parts embracing the driving block, the intermediate member and the piston; and which also resolves a ,component of the shaft motion into an up and down movement of the driving part. The sense of such motions and movements are so described for facilitating an understanding of the working of the apparatus as depicted in the diagrams, but they are to be consideredas relative since the functioning would be the same if the apparatus were arranged in a plane lat right angles to that shown, or in Aan intermediate position.

' l'I he major compression chambers formed by the end walls of the cylinder and the adjacent end faces of the pistons are indicated by A, B; the minor chambers between the top and bottom walls of the driving part and the bore of the `major piston member by C, D. Through the peripheral walls of the cylinder are formed two .inlet passagesl 1, 1a at top and bottom respec- V- -;etively,f and two outlet or delivery passages 8, 8a

,at' bottom and top respectively.; Thepiston 2 has n 'a deliveryj passage 9--throughits end wall and to pumps and compreslil another I0 through its peripheral wall, and the piston 2a has similar passages 9a, Illa; the driving member has inclined delivery -conduits I2, I2a

for establishing communication between the` i and the eccentric throw is horizontal.

Assuming an angular movement of the driving shaft 5 and the eccentric 6 in an anti-clockwise direction, it will be seen that such movement produces two actions, as will be evident by reference 1 to Figure 2, which occur concurrently. There is a downward displacement of the driving part 4 which functions as a minor piston and expels fluid from the lower minor compressing chamber C by way of the passages lI 0, 8 in the lower peripheral walls of the major piston and the cylinder which are in register, the inclined passage I2 having moved out of register with the passage II.

Accompanying the downward displa-cement of the driving part 4 is a lateral movement which is transmitted to the intermediate member 3 which is thereby moved to the right for a limited distance within and in relation to the major piston, the major piston however remaining static throughout such limited distance so that a passage is formed by the space I3 between the left hand face of the intermediate member 3 and the adjacent right hand face of the piston 2. Such space is placed in communication with the top fluid inlet 1 in the cylinder by means of a right angle conduit I4 in the upper peripheral wall of the major piston uncovered by the lateral movement of the intermediate part, so that immediately the major piston is moved to the right by the next succeeding turning motion of the driving :1 shaft and eccentric as depicted in Figure 3, the

major chamber A on the left is connected by the passage 9 through the piston end with the upper inlet 1 and induces fluid flow into the chamber.

During the rst portion of the intake stroke of the piston 3, the driving part 4 has continued its downward displacement forcing fluid from the chamber C until the passage I0 cie-registers with the passage 8; the bottom end of its stroke being reached when the ldriving shaft andv eccentric have turned through 90 from the4 com-f mencingposition of Figure l to that of Figure 3 where the throw is upright.

- Further rotation of the driving'shaft continues the common sliding movement of the driving part, the intermediate member, and the major pistonl to the right, a further stage in the cycle 3 being illustrated in Figure 4JV during which the induction chamber A continues to growY in volume with the intake passages continuing in communication by Way of the elongated limb of the4 which coincides with the arrival orA the driving part and minor piston 4 at mid-stroke and the full registration of the transferpassage I 2 in the minor piston with horizontal passageV il in the intermediate member. Such registration. by way of passage in the major piston, provides communication between the major chamber A andthe minor chamber C which are thus at a common pressure and have a` common fluidt connection with the inlet l. The driving-shaft and eccentric at this stage have revolved through 180. from their ini-tial" position to terminate the firstl half ofv the-cycle.

Aszshown in Figure 6, themajor piston is static during the rst portion' of the lateral return motion of the driving partandf of the intermediate member 3 whereby the top face of the latter obturates or closes the upright limb ofthe piston passage M' and with it the inlet i. While the inlet isl thus being closed by the right to left lateralmotion, the upward' movement of the driving part l isolates the minor chamber C from the major chamber A; since the transfer passage 2 is movedv out of line with: the communicating passage Il in the intermediate member. The lateral iioat ofthe intermediate member being thusfabsorbed, the three organs comprising the driving part s, the intermediate member 3, and

the piston 2 move,v in unison to the left and compression commences: in the major chamber A, one intermediate stage being depicted in Figure with. the eccentric throw upright' and: the driving part andV minor pistonY 4 at the top of its stroke, and a further stage in Figure 8 with the eccentric throw ati 45"`-ther compression chamber A; stillfurther reduced in volume, and the transfer passage t2* approaching the passage Il' inthe intermediatemember Continued descent of thevminor piston l ccnnects'thezmaj or chamberA withY the minor chamber'C. by. registration of transferpassage I2 with the passage let', while` concurrently the minor chamberl C1 is" coupled with the outlet 8 in the peripheral Wall' ofthe cylinder I by means of the passage i' in the peripheral wall of the pistcn 2, such coupling beingl made by virtue ofthe right, toV left motionA ofl themajorA piston. The final positions` of the three co-operating parts (moving concurrently in thel manner-described) at: the end of the compression stroke of the major piston are' indicated in Figure 1v from which point. the" cycle re-mmimences withv induction into the major chamber and expression or delivery of iiuidA from the, minor chamber C.

if' desired,` apparatus 'according to the invention may' be constructedto-be doublefeactinai'., e. twoseparate actions from a single cylinder. In the diagrams', such anv embodiment isr shown wherein aspiration in one chamber isVv accompan-led 'by deliveryv from the other;4 the several parts* are', arranged` symmetrically aboutv a horizontal line; and about avertical line, and the operations and their sequence` pertaining tothe right hand half of the compressor--are exactly similar' to v those; already described in connection withltneleft handbal-fi.- A comparison or Figure (5v-with Figure 2 wilt make-clear thattheimet la arthehottom; orithecrlinder inieurefhasheen 2' connected with the passage 13a forV the right hand compressor in exactly the samel manner as the inlet lv at the top with the passage I3 in Figure 2 for the left hand compressor, and by the same action i. e. the lateral float of the intermediateY member within the major piston.

As the: major right hand piston moves to the left, the chamber B grows in volume as shown successively in Figures 7, 8, and 1 to the termination of the aspiration stroke. The lateral float of the intermediate member then comes into action again` to isolate the inlet 'la from the chamber B so that continued rectilinear movement of the major piston 2a compresses the uid in the chamber as indicated by Figures 3 and 4 untilV the several deliveryV passages 9a, Ila, |2a, ma andV 8a are placedv in seriesY communication as depicted in Figure 5suchV coupling of the'major compression chamberB with the outlet port in the cylinder corresponding to that illustrated in Figureu 1 forv the left hand compressor, in each case the' eccentricl throw being' horizontal and the driving part e at the middle of' its stroke, and the two angular positions of the driving shaft being apart.

Similar parts in the halves of the compressor have the` same numerals of identification but those ci the right hand compressorV are distinguished by the addition of the'postx a.

A compressor constructed in accordance with the invention or they doi-ible-acting type embodying the parts and actions described is depicted inV Figures 9, 10 andL 171 wherein the cylinder I is built up of an annulus closed at each end by a cover l5 and provided with a counterbore I6 to accommodate a lubricating padto-which lubricant is fed through a top holer l-'l andA from which used` oil may be drained from a bottom hole [8'. Conveniently, the double-ended piston is composed of two sections7 an annulus with one end disc integral and an end plate I9 closing the open end. Driving arrangements may include a power shaft 20 journalled in the casing, provided with a fluid sealing device 2t, and connected by key, splines,v or the like with the oiiset eccentric stub shaft 22'. The latter carries the inner race 23 of a ball bearing held by screw and nut 24, and has a spigot part' 25 arranged tol register with a hole in a plug 25- insertedV in a rebateformed in the bore of the driving part 4, saidV plug also serving to locate endwise the outer race 21 of the ball bearing.

To prevent turning of the major piston member aboutv its` axis, a longitudinali groove is machined therein to engage a locating guide 28 Held by the inner end ofa screw 29 anchored in the casing, or other appropriate means may be incorporated.V Y

As will be apparent, from; Figure, 10, the compressionv chambers,v the double-ended piston slidable therein, the. intermediate member, and; the driving part are each of cylindrical formation; the piston. member and the intermediate member have a purely rectilinear motionaxially'of the casing; While thedrving part has a. compound motion withone component. axially as aforesaid and the other transverseto. theaxis. Since the. several motions controlling the various passages arel identicall with those, already ex.- pounded and illustrated in. ligurcs 1-Y to. 8Jv nq further eXplanatiOH-,S-needed. Instead oi! -usnggaI double-endedpiston, two separate single-acting pistons maybe employed, one such embodimentbeina shown ingFisure- 12j wherein the several co-operating parts and passages which function in the same manner as those included in Figure 10, are marked with corresponding numerals and letters of reference, from which the actions will be apparent, the differences being mainly constructional. To actuate both pistons concurrently, the eccentric sheave 3 is extended in the form of a yoke 39 having its ends connected by pins 3l with the two driving parts 4, 4a by which arrangement both such parts are caused to rise and fall together. The two inlet passages 'l in the cylinder are connected together by a manifold 32, and the two delivery passages 8 by a second manifold 33. The function of the intermediate member in transmitting motion to the piston is the same as in the double-ended apparatus, but it differs therefrom slightly in its control of the intake in that a passage 34, 343e is provided in the end wall of the member next the major compression chamber communicating with the respective minor chambers D, and the sealing of the passage is effected by the end face of the member instead of by the periphery. Intake passages l and H are in continuous register and similarly passages a and Ma, so that the entering i'luid passes through the two minor chambers D, D. Delivery passages 9 and 9a are duplicated to increase the cross-sectional area effective for a given displacement of ther minor pistons.

For dealing with liquids, which are virtually incompressible, it is necessary for the major working chamber to be placed in communication with the outlet for the whole of the delivery stroke. Accordingly, the control end of each oi' the passages l2, IZa in the driving part li is lcngthened as indicated at 35, 35a. in Figure 9 so that they register respectively with the passages il, vl ia during the up or down movement of the driving part which corresponds to the respective delivery stroke of the relevant major piston.

The employment of the driving part instead of the. conventional connecting rod allows the apparatus to be built much more compactly with a consequent improved ratio of weight and cost to given volume delivered, improved further by incorporating the features of the invention in a double-acting apparatus.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Apparatus of the reciprocating piston type for delivering fluids including a working chamber, a piston slidable therein, a rotary shaft having a crank or eccentric, a passage in the piston leading to the working chamber, an intermediate member having a limited amount of oat relative to the piston in line with the piston movement arranged to open or close said passageway by virtue of such relative float, and a motion-transmitting part connecting the intermediate member and the piston to the crank or eccentric, said motion-transmitting part being so mounted in relation to the intermediate member that .rotary movement of the shaft is resolved into two sliding motions of said part one of which motions is imparted to the intermediate member and the piston and the other of which is in transverse relation to the piston movement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 having a chamber in the intermediate member wherein the motion-transmitting part is movable, and communicating passages between the said chamber and the working chamber controlled by the Y transverse motion relative to the piston ofy the said part to control delivery of fluid from the working chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 having a chamber in the intermediate member wherein the motion-transmitting part is movable, passages in the motion-transmitting part, the intermediate member, the piston, and the peripheral wall oi the working chamber forming a means of communication between the two chambers controlled by the transverse motion relative to the piston of the said part.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein uid passageways to or from the working chamber are co-operatively controlled in part by the transverse motion relative to the piston of the motion-transmitting part and in part by the piston movement.

5. Apparatus of the reciprocating piston type for delivering fluids including a working chamber, a piston slidable therein, a rotary shaft having a crank or eccentric, a passageway in the piston leading to the working chamber, and an intermediate member having a limited amount of float relative to the piston in line with the piston movement arranged to open or close said passageway by virtue of such relative iioat, and a motion-transmitting part connecting the intermediate member and the piston to the crank or eccentric.V

6. Apparatus of the reciprocating piston type for delivering fluids including a working chamber. a piston slidably mounted therein, a rotary shaft having a crank or eccentric, a motion-transmitting part operated by the crank or eccentric, and an intermediate member connecting the motion-transmitting part and the piston with the crank or eccentric, said motion-transmitting part being so mounted in relation to the intermediate member that rotary movement of the 'shaft is resolved into two sliding motions of said part one of which motions is imparted to the intermediate member and the piston and the other of which is in transverse relation tc the piston movement.

7. Apparatus of the reciprocating piston type for delivering uids including a working chamber, a piston slidable therein, a rotary shaft having a crank or eccentric, a passageway in the piston leading to the working chamber, an intermediate member having a movement relative to the piston arranged to open or close said passageway by virtue of such relative movement, and a motion transmitting part connecting the intermediate member and the piston to the crank or eccentric.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the working chamber, the piston, and the intermediate member are each double-ended, and the motion-transmitting part is arranged between the ends of the intermediate member.

GEORGE FREDERICK AUSTIN. DAVID GORDON WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Skarlund Sept. 13, 1938 

